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Throwback: The Early Freight Service and PALShop Program of Philippine Airlines

Posted on Wednesday, 28 December 2016

Throwback: The Early Freight Service

and PALShop Program Of Philippine Airlines

By Apolinario Villalobos

Almost always, when it comes to specific topics for recollection of ex-PALers, the cargo operation, if ever mentioned becomes only a “by-the-way” as part of the Manila Station- Domestic. One reason, perhaps, could be the unassuming character of the ex-PALers who moved commodities from station to station, but the fact is, cargo operation was never behind as regards revenue generation of the airline, especially, during its Golden Years.

The early years of PAL saw Manila Station-Domestic under Manny Panlilio as manager, and located at the old Domestic Terminal (today, NAIA Terminal 4) where Airfreight Marketing-Domestic (AFMD) under Louie Adecer was also located. He was assisted by the All Cargo Aircraft Coordinators (ACAC) such as, Alfonso “Boy” Bayani, Beda Cuenco, Cecille Mella, and Tony Bejar. As Coordinators, they set up domestic cargo flights utilizing three to four DC3s, one YS-11, the “ubiquitous” Argosy, to quote Boy Bayani who added that the said aircraft should have been better called “Agony” as it spent more time on the ground due to frequent servicing than in-flight. In addition to those aircrafts, they sometimes chartered the L100-20, a civilian C-130 from the Philippine Aerotransport, Inc. (PATI), a competitor which was later absorbed by PAL.

The sales aspect of the AFMD was supervised by Johnny Corpuz, while the cargo handling was under Nonoy Tolentino. Later, however, due to an organizational shake up, both MSD and AFMD were brought under the administration of the MSP which at the time was headed by Mr. Ricardo Paloma. The organizational change also resulted to the re-assigning of the personnel to other offices, and among them was Boy Bayani who was transferred to the Vernida building.

As there was a dire need to shape up the operations of AFMD, Dr. Avelino Zapanta (PAL President during his retirement) was made to manage it in the interim, and later replaced by Jose Clemente. It was during the time that Dr. Zapanta prepared studies that led to the development of the Domestic Cargo Operating Manual, and which further resulted to the mechanization of the whole operation. From such feat, the Cargo Department became a formidable revenue earner of the country’s flag carrier which could have even enabled it to stand on its own as a “separate business unit” (SBU). But, that’s another story.

The metamorphosis of what was just a small airfreight division at the Old Domestic Terminal resulted to the conceptualization of other revolutionary programs, with the most remarkable as the “PALShop”. It was a program which benefited both the employees and the company. With the program, the employees were afforded the opportunity to enjoy the products of the provinces where PAL stations were located from Batanes to Tawi-tawi, at the cheapest possible price and could be picked up fresh from the PALShop outlet at the old Domestic Terminal. On the other hand, the company was assured that allowable weight of cargoes that translated to revenue would fill up the regular passenger and cargo flights, especially, during the “lean season”. All that the employees did was fill up an order form based on the list of products provided by the PALShop Office to be covered with the regular airway bill.

A year-end bonanza following the PALShop concept was the Christmas “tiyangge” (bazaar) on the fifth floor of the Vernida Building where the Administrative Offices were located. The bazaar was filled with products packed in crates sent by the different stations. Employees of the stations pooled their financial resources that they used for the purchase of local products based on the “order list” prepared in advance by the Standards and Coordination Division, under Ed Guatelara, and in close coordination with the Manila Station and Domestic Cargo Office for speedy delivery to Vernida building. With this arrangement, the provincial/station-based employees earned extra pesos to tide them over the holiday season while those in Manila were able to save on the commodities that they need, instead of being strangled by the prices of those found on the shelves of supermarkets that have soared expectedly.

Ex-PALers who benefited from the PALShop would reminisce about it with fondness. “Those were the days”, is what they could just say with a sigh.

(Note: Information on the early days of AFMD, including the names, is based on the recollection of Alfonso “Boy” Bayani.)

Don't Despair if You Cannot Share Blessings the Way Others Do

DON’T DESPAIR IF YOU CANNOT SHARE BLESSINGS

THE WAY OTHERS DO

By Apolinario Villalobos

If you come across stories in the internet about people sharing blessings, do not wish that you could do exactly the same. Just absorb the message of the story and transpose it into what is applicable in your community and capability that you can possibly and sincerely do. There are many stories in the internet with some made more interesting by accompanying photos but, what you should do is profusely thank the Most Powerful for giving life to these unknown altruistic souls who reached out to others during unguarded moments and at unexpected places. What should be given notice is their immediate unselfish act that need not be copied, but instead, used as guidance and inspiration.

If you exert so much effort in imitating others, the act would not be realistic. Try to be original. Unconsciously, that could be the reason why I did not attempt to read the book that I won as a prize and donated by our school Director, Fr. Robert Sullivan, during an extemporaneous writing in English when I was in high school. As a provinciano, I did not know that the book was very popular, then and today…the title on the cover was “Imitations of Christ”. The word “imitation” turned me off. I gave it to a boyhood buddy who is now with the Lord (hopefully) in exchange for a paperback that contained Khalil Gibran poems that he gave me, but which unfortunately, did not impress me, so I passed it on to another friend, too. I am not saying here that I do not like Jesus, but, since childhood, I had been guided by the Golden Rule, and of course, love of the Most Powerful.

Filipinos living in Europe and America who come across stories about altruism in the Philippines should consider the vast differences as regards living condition and other factors. In countries where they are, working hard for their families in the Philippines, every penny counts a lot. Taxes in the country where they are, are high and budgeting is to the last cent. Although, they may have a few dollars set aside for the “rainy days”, they also need to hold on to such savings, as they have nobody to turn to in time of emergency.

On the other hand, Filipinos in the Philippines have friends and relatives to turn to in case of emergency, making them “bold” enough to share their “extras” with strangers. My point here is, if ever fellowmen abroad who come across situations about the Philippines in the internet that picture want or poverty in various angles, they should offer prayers, rather than force themselves, to part with their hard-earned money which they may need later.

Altruism does not manifest in the form of material objects alone, but in things that only the heart can define with sincerity….and they include prayers. If this attitude can be maintained, the setting in of despair or feeling of remorse can be prevented. Be charitable in your own affordable and doable way.

Ang Pilipinas Noon at Ngayon sa Isang Sulyap

Ang Pilipinas Noon at Ngayon

Sa Isang Sulyap

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Nadanasan na ng mga Pilipino ang maalipusta ng mga Kastila, pati ng mga Amerikano at sa maikling panahon ay ng mga Hapon….iba talaga ang maging malaya.

Nadanasan ang kalayaan nang ibigay ng mga Amerikano sa mg Pilipino ang pamamahala ng bansa, nagkaroon ng Commonwealth….umusbong ang katiwalian dahil ang mga humawak sa gobyerno ay mga mayayamang asenderong nanigurong hindi mawala ang kanilang yaman…pumasok sa eksena ang mga intelektwal, pero sa halip na kapakanan ng buong bansa ang inasikaso ay ang pagpayaman nila kaya nagkaroon ng karagdagang mukha ang korapsyon.

Nadanasan ang Martial Law….isinuka dahil ang kultura ng Pilipino ay hindi sumasang-ayon dito na kinopya lamang sa Saligang Batas ng Amerika…. nagkaroon ng People Power….subalit ang masaklap ay hindi nangyari ang ang inasahang pagbabago.

Pagkalipas ng administrasyon ng unang babaeng presidente, si Cory Aquino, na nagsilbi sanang “nanay” ng Republika ay nabigong magpakita ng mga inaasahang katangian…. hindi nagkaroon ng leksiyon ang mga Pilipino dahil nagkaroon ng isa pang babaeng presidente, si Gloria Arroyo....subalit, wala ring nangyaring pagbabago dahil lalo pang umalagwa ang korapsyon.

Nagkaroon ng presidenteng dating heneral at isang artista, at isa pang mabait at mahinahon kuno….puro sumemplang pa rin sa mga dapat asahan dahil lalo pang umalagwa ang korapsyon at ang nakawan sa kaban ng bayan ay halos hantaran na kung gawin….lalong tumapang ang mga kawatan dahil sa kalamyaan ng mga batas na walang pangil….at, ang masakit, nadagdagan ang problema ng Pilipinas sa droga na hindi alam ng mga Pilipino ay nagkakaugat na pala ng malalim at mabilis na yumayabong. Nabisto lamang ang katotohanang ito nang lumitaw ang isang Duterte.

Nagkaroon ng presidenteng hindi malamya, si Duterte, subalit tinutuligsa naman dahil sa mga extra judicial killings na pinaparatang sa kanya, pero wala namang napatunayan pa sa korte.

ANO KAYA KUNG ISANG KATOLIKONG OBISPO NAMAN ANG MANUNGKULANG PRESIDENTE DAHIL BATAY SA MGA PANANALITA NG ILAN SA KANILA, LALO NA YONG TAGA-NORTE, PARA BANG MAGKAKAROON NG KATAHIMIKAN ANG BANSA KUNG MAGING MABAIT LANG ANG GOBYERNO SA MGA TAONG SANGKOT SA DRUGS DAHIL “BAWAL” DAW ANG PUMATAY. SINO BA ANG MGA PUMAPATAY? AT, SINO ANG MGA PINAPATAY? KUNG SAKALING MATULOY, SANA AY ISAMA NA RIN NILA SA MABAIT NILANG PANUKALA ANG “MATIWASAY” NA PAGSAWAY SA MGA KORAP SA GOBYERNO!

AT LEAST, AKO AY MAY SUGGESTION, HINDI TULAD NG IBA NA TULIGSA LANG NANG TULIGSA KAY DUTERTE PERO WALA NAMANG SUGGESTION KUNDI ANG MAGSAMBIT NG “DUE PROCESS” NA NOON PANG PANAHON NG COMMONWEALTH AY GINAGAWA NA PERO WALA NAMANG NANGYARI. DAHIL SA “DUE PROCESS” NA YAN, NAGSULPUTAN LANG ANG MGA KORAP NA HUWES AT MGA “MAGAGALING” NA ABOGADO NA ANG PABORITONG KLIYENTE AY MGA KRIMINAL NA MAY PERANG PAMBAYAD NG MILYON-MILYONG PESOSES!!!!

Barazel "Bob" Salazar: From Security Guard and Ateneo Professor, to PAL Executive

Posted on Monday, 26 December 2016

Barazel “Bob” Salazar: From Security Guard

and Ateneo Professor, to PAL Executive

By Apolinario Villalobos

I met him when I had a short tour-of-duty (TDY) in Masbate as a ticket clerk, a few months after I joined PAL, and when Tablas station (my first assignment) was temporarily closed for runway improvement. During the time, the station Supervisor was Rudy Cid and the Load Controller was Jolly Fernandez, who resigned from PAL to run for mayor of the said town, against one of the Espiἧosas, and although, he won, his stint was cut short by his violent death from the hands of an assassin.

I vividly recalled the day when Bob and Rudy Cid asked me to leave the check-in counter during my confrontation with one of the bodyguards of the mayor (an Espiἧosa) as regards their package using the “padala system”. Although, the said system could be tolerated for compassionate reason, some parties abuse it, and being new, I was very strict in following the rules that I learned during my training. I had no knowledge then, about the local politics in Masbate, and it was only when the flight has left that they explained to me everything…about the Espiἧosas. From then on, Bob became more vigilant in checking during flight days if personalities that could provoke me at the check-in counter were around. If none, I was allowed to go on with my checking in of passengers.

I had no idea of how Bob was able to break into the airline industry. I was surprised then, when during a meeting lately, he told me that he went through a series of discouraging and harrowing experience before finally securing a job in PAL as a Ticket/Freight Clerk. His father was a Court Interpreter while his mother was a school teacher who died when he was in second year high school. His father remarried but continued taking of them, albeit, with difficulty. It was during the time when they experienced receiving food from the relatives. He settled down at age 19, while he was in high school. To help his family, he did odd jobs selling newspapers, cleaning buses, working at construction sites, and as surveyor assistant. It was when was married when he pursued his college education and wife helped him financially until he graduated. During the time, he was working as a security guard, an inspiring fact that he proudly divulged to me without any qualm.

After graduating from college, he worked as Inventory Clerk, and shortly, joined PAL as Ticket/ Freight Clerk assigned in Masbate station, But when he was assigned in Naga as Station Agent, he pursued his Master’s Degree at the University of Nueva Caceres. To help him augment his income he taught a the Ateneo de Naga in the evening. He was able to finish his MBA in 1987 at Naga, and the following year, he was assigned back to Masbate but at the time, as Branch Manager. He moved on as Branch Manager of San Jose (Mindoro) in 1992. His teaching and post-graduate studies were not cut short, although, he was transferred to other stations on temporary duty.

Our path again crossed when he was assigned at International Sales Office at S and L building along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City. That was the time when the Philippines and Guam Region was merged with the International Sales-Philippines which was considered as the company’s sales “flagship”. When I left the company, I learned about his series of promotions that he more than deserved. He was promoted as Product Manager in 1998; assigned in Iloilo as Branch Manager in year 2000; Cargo Marketing Manager in Manila up to 2005 during which he authored the RHUSH which raked in millions of dollars of cargo revenue for the company. Still in 2005, he was promoted as Asst. VP for Visayas; and, finally, in 2010, sent to Japan as Country Manager. Today, he is happily retired, but grateful to PAL with which he spent more than half of his fruitful life.

Children of Dawn

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Children of Dawn

By Apolinario B Villalobos

I call them children of dawn

Oblivious to the cold

Who on the paved sidewalk

Are peacefully sprawled.

With empty stomach

They stare at the wave

Of people who rush by,

Inhale the exhaust of cars

And bathe in the dust

That the wind sweep at them,

Unmindful still of the heat

That the sun beams

As it reaches its zenith

Signaling the half-day cycle

Of Mother Earth.

Surviving on morsels

Found in garbage bins…

With glee, smiles at found

Unfinished sandwiches

Half- eaten breads

Half- rotten fruits,

Thankful for them

Just like the birds of the sky

The fish in the vast oceans

Trees that on polluted air survive

And other creatures of the wild;

These children of dawn

Are luckier than most of us -

With innocently sparkling eyes

And simple, yet, virtuous desires!

Ang Tubig at Hangin

Ang Tubig at Hangin

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang tubig at hangin -

Bahagi ng buhay kung sila ay ituring.

Sa tubig ng sinapupunan nakalutang

Ang binhi ng buhay na sumisibol pa lamang

Na sa mundong lalabasa’y walang kamuwang-muwang.

Gaya ng tubig, ang hangi’y buhay din,

Nagpapatibok sa puso, nagpapapintig;

Ang sibol, nakapikit man, ito ay nakakarinig

Na animo ay naghahanda na, paglabas niya sa daigdig.

Hangin ang unang malalanghap niya

Sa takdang panahong siya’y isinilang na,

At, sa kaguluhan ng mundo

Imumulat ang mga mata -

Kasabay ng malakas niyang pag-uha.

Sa tigang na lupa, ang tubig ay buhay

Ito’y ulang bumabagsak mula sa kalawakan

Subali’t kapag lumabis na’t hindi mapigilan

Nagiging baha, pumipinsala sa sangkatauhan

Ganoon din ang hangin na dulot ay ginhawa

Basta ang ihip, huwag lang magbago ng timpla.

Baha at bagyo

Dulot ng tubig at hangin sa mundo

Hindi masawata

Kaya dulot ay matinding pinsala

Subali’t sana, kahit papaano’y maiibsan

Kung napangalagaan natin ang kalikasan -

Na ating inalipusta nang walang pakundangan!

The Philippine National Bank of Bacoor City (Aguinaldo Highway Branch)

Posted on Wednesday, 21 December 2016

The Philippine National Bank of Bacoor City

(Aguinaldo Highway Branch)

By Apolinario Villalobos

My opening of an account with the Philippine National Bank (PNB) as a repository of my pension was actually a revival of my trust to this bank which happens to be the “sister company” of Philippine Airlines, my former employer. I had my first experience of the bank’s service when I decided to use checks for personal transactions many years back, particularly, during the 1980s. My feeling of security was anchored on the bank’s being a government institution since 100 years ago. I closed my checking account when I left Philippine Airlines as I had no more use for it. Though I had some regrets, I treasured the opportunity of having experienced the traditional Filipino service which is deeply impressed with hospitality.

The second time I had the chance to experience the well-known traditional service of the bank was when I filed for my pension with the Social Security System (SSS) which during the time was literally, a neighbor of the bank, as it was just a few steps away, along Aguinaldo highway. As I was in a hurry to go back to the SSS, Ms. Sheryll Ann Erive compassionately attended to me immediately. My transactions with the bank did not end with the issuance of my ATM card which was given to me together with complete instruction, including the rules that cover the ACOP. I could not help noticing the smile that never left the lips of the personnel, even the contracted staff – the security guards, as they open the door for the clients with a warm greeting.

The Branch Manager, himself, Mr. Roy Tan is always smiling and ever patient. Just this morning when I dropped by to make some verification on my ATM withdrawal record, he put down the phone momentarily to listen to me. But upon noticing that Ms. Sarah Artiaga was already free, I asked that I be entertained by her. With much patience, Ms. Artiaga immediately displayed my e-record to help me recall one withdrawal which I failed to enter into my cell phone’s archive. My query was a blessing in disguise as I came to learn about their internal security verification system which will be needed for my future blogs.

My pension is comparatively small but my experience that morning made me feel that the amount of deposit made by their clients is immaterial for them, as what matters is the client, himself. In other words the number of digits does not make any difference as foremost in their mind is the satisfaction of all their clients. Such service is given substance by their latest message to their clients which says, “you first”.

According to Mr. Tan, they are not affected by the cut-throat competition posed by other banks as they continuously exert their total effort to satisfy their clients based on their “traditional service” which as mentioned earlier, is truly deeply impressed with Filipino hospitality. The principle is simple....satisfy the client and he will be back. And, what else can put a client at ease than an assuring smile. Nevertheless, Mr. Tan mentioned that the bank has plans to enhance its service for the convenience of their ever-growing number of clients. To date, the bank has a “bank on wheels” which I came across at the PNB/PAL headquarters along Roxas Boulevard.

Here are some historical notes about the bank: it was established on July 16, 1916 at the old Masonic Temple in Escolta, based on Public Act 2016 authored by Miguel Cuaderno, replacing the government’s Agricultural Bank; its first president was an American, H. Parker Willis; it served as a de facto Central Bank of the Philippines in 1949; its first local branch was established in Iloilo in 1917; its first international branch was opened in New York; it was the first to offer the ATM service to clients; the Memorandum of Agreement with Lucio Tan Group of Companies was signed in May 2002, two years after the said group became the bank’s first single stock holder; the bank also prides in the awards received from SSS twice (Balikat ng Bayan), as well as, Reader’s Digest and AC Nielsen (Gold Superbrand).